The present tense of verbs in Niw Englisc should be familiar to anyone who might have read Chaucer or Shakespeare. The older endings 'est' and 'eth' are present in Niw Englisc, much as they are in modern German (as 'st' and 't')

_

sg.

pl.

Ic

drinke

drinkeþ

þu

drinkst

drinkeþ

he/scie/it

drinkþ

drinkeþ

This translates the modern English: I drink, I do drink, I am drinking. There is really no analogous construction to these forms in Niw Englisc. The closest is the am -oþ/-en construction:

Ic em am Huntoþ - I'm hunting. Ic em am Surfen - I'm surfing.

This is not too often used, as the simple verb gives the same meaning, but this form indicates that the activity has been going on for some time, and will continue to occur for at least some time into the future.

decreed by fate or providence, shall, must; he scall geblinded werðan - he must go blindscall hine wulf etten - he shall be eaten by a wolf, i.e. a wolf must eat him

with no alternative, or you can't help yourself, must, be forced to; ic scall þen Keks etten - I have to eat the cookie!ic scall Fotball scawen - I can't help but watch football, i.e. I must watch football

because no alternative is admissable/possible, because a conclusion is inevitable, to be obliged, must, shall; wiȝ sculleþ hin scyldiȝ finden - we must find him guilty

denoting need, where the end is to be attained, a task to be completed, or purpose to be served, shall, must;

denoting certainty of future event, resulting from settled purpose or decision; he wisste þat þie Burg scall abroken werðen - He (Christ) knew the city must be destroyed

denoting certainty of result under proper conditions, þu scallst mein Leif gebergen - you are certain to save my life

probability, weenst þu þat ic scall to þissem treowlæsen Mann sprekan? - do you think it likely that I shall speak to this false man?

denoting an assertion not made by the speaker, a reported statement, man scall þie Scol Mondæȝ open finden - it is said that one shall find the school open Monday

with dropped infinitive, ic scall þider - I must go there, þie Gafel þe to Burg scall - the tax that must go to the city